My job requires me to travel… a lot. I’ve recently started a host of video podcast series and, while I love them, editing large files of content on the go with nothing more than a Microsoft Surface Pro, is tough. I’ve been looking for an external storage solution for video edits which could travel with me and I think I’ve found a great solution: The Western Digital G-DRIVE ArmorATD. Here’s why I’m using it:
I want to ensure I have backups of all my video content AND a means to free up space on the devices I travel with because they are limited in their capabilities. I needed an external hard drive but I was spoilt for choice with what was available. I’m a big fan of Western Digital as I like the brand and have used a lot of their products, so I decided to take a look and see what was on offer from them and what might suit my needs. I’ll be the first to admit that the solution I found wasn’t my first choice but it has delivered on what I need, so I thought I’d share it with you should you have similar requirements to me and be looking for a solution.
The G-DRIVE ArmorATD
This external hard drive is a bit clunkier and bigger than I’d like for travelling BUT it is durable and rugged which means it can survive some of the brutal airport security unpacks which come its way. It has a strong rubber cover and brushed aluminium finish which means it still looks good. Out of the box you’ll get the hard drive and a USB C connection cable. That connection means you can expect the device to work quick and fast. It’s very much a great plug and play backup solution. From a speed point of via you’ve got a solution which is compatible with Thunderbolt 2 and USB 3.2 Gen 1 and transfer rates of up to 130MB/s. All in all – this is going to tick most of the boxes you’ll need ticked if you’re looking for a portable storage device.
A Few other things to note
So the G-DRIVE ArmorATD is set up to work with macOS right out the box. However, if you’re like me and not working off a mac device then you’ll need to reformat the drive before you try use it. That’s actually not as complicated as it sounds, but I know for a few not so tech heads it could be a little scary. Google is your friend here. You DO NOT need to download any software or buy any subscriptions. Western Digital has a step by step walk through of how to do this on their website here. The device is designed to be rugged which puts my mind at ease when I’m throwing it into a backpack.
It has an IP54 rain/dust rating and a crush resistance of up to 1000lbs. But I’d still avoid trying to do damage to it. Your content doesn’t need to have that additional risk added to it.
My favourite part
Western Digital is a respected and well known brand so that is always a big positive for me. The G-DRIVE ArmorATD external hard drive also comes with a 3 year limited warranty which allows a bit of peace of mind. If you’d like to purchase your own, I have an affiliate link here on Amazon you can use.
